Genesis Chapter 10
Reading Bible genealogies can be difficult for sure, but they are very important as we discover the true history of mankind. These particular genealogies of the sons of Noah are most important because their generations are the generations that became the various people groups of the world.
One would think that the offspring of the sons of Noah would be men and women who earnestly sought to please the Lord in all that they did having learned of the Great Flood of their fathers. But it is never long before men fall back into sinful ways and seek to please themselves rather than God.
As you read through this chapter it will mention different languages of these people groups but that is a reference to the different languages that God will put on their tongues after the tower of Babel which we will read about in
chapter 11.
Let's Reflect
1. In verse 7 we learn of the descendants of Ham. One son was named Nimrod. This man became famous in ancient history. He was a warrior hunting down men so to grow his kingdom bigger and bigger. What was the title given to Nimrod?
“This is not talking about Nimrod’s ability to hunt wild game. He was not a hunter of animals. He was a hunter of men – a warrior. It was through his ability to fight and kill and rule ruthlessly that his kingdom of the Euphrates valley city states was consolidated.” [Boice]
2. According to verse 14, Ham’s grandson Casluhim became the father of what great nation? This nation would later become a great thorn to the people of Israel.
3. In verse 19 we find the beginnings of the Canaanite people who occupied the land that would be given to the Israelites known better as the promised land. What do we learn was the extent of the land that the Canaanites occupied?
4. What does the last verse tell us about the genealogies of the sons of Noah?
Before the flood and after the flood great cities are being built. These people after the flood are not living as long as the people before the flood, but they are still living to be several hundred years old. This allows time for great civilizations to be created. These people were also highly intelligent. Do not let modern historians taint the truth of the Bible. God told the sons of Noah to be fruitful and to multiply and fill the earth and that is exactly what they did as some settled in Africa, some in Europe and some in Asia. This Bible is the true account of our ancestors.
